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what's an aortic dissection, the condition that killed depeche mode's andy fletcher?

the depeche mode keyboardist died of the heart condition at age 60 in may 2022.

by maija kappler

jun 29 2022
read time 2 minute read
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what is aortic dissection — what killed andy fletcher of depeche mode?
depeche mode keyboard player andy fletcher, who died of an aortic dissection in may. (depeche mode / instagram)
depeche mode revealed this week that keyboard player andy fletcher, who died last month at age 60, was killed by an aortic dissection, a rare condition that’s essentially caused by a tear in the heart.

“a couple weeks ago we received the result from the medical examiners, which andy’s family asked us to share with you now,” bandmates martin gore and dave gahan shared in a statement on social media . “andy suffered an aortic dissection while at home on may 26. so, even though it was far, far too soon, he passed naturally and without prolonged suffering.”

an aortic dissection occurs when there’s a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the main artery that carries blood to the heart, the mayo clinic explains . blood will then flow out of the tear, which causes a split in the aorta’s middle and outer layers. blood can then travel outside of the aorta, and regular blood flow to the rest of the body can stop, which can be fatal. aortic dissection often results in death, although there are some cases where a patient’s life can be saved with immediate surgery.

it’s similar to some other heart conditions, according to the cleveland clinic . an aortic aneurysm, which can lead to aortic rupture or dissection, is a weakened area in the aortic wall. an aortic rupture is a complete tear that rips through all three layers of the aorta.

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symptoms of aortic dissection are similar to the symptoms of a heart attack: sudden and severe chest and stomach pain, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, difficulty walking. there are also some symptoms similar to what happens to people having a stroke: sudden vision problems, difficulty speaking, weakness or paralysis in one side of the body.
fletcher’s bandmates wrote on social media that they had a “celebration of andy’s life” last week in london, which they described as “a beautiful ceremony and gathering with a few tears, but filled with the great memories of who andy was, stories of all of our times together, and some good laughs. andy was celebrated in a room full of many of his friends and family, our immediate dm family, and so many people who have touched andy’s and our lives throughout the years. all being together was a very special way to remember andy and see him off.”
maija kappler is a reporter and editor at healthing. you can reach her at mkappler@postmedia.com
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